Best DVD-Player for $200-300? Without the Chroma Bug. (1 Viewer)

[Derek B]

I found this list of DVD players Featuring Faroudja DCDi™ http://www.dcdi-video.com/products/dvd/index.html

How does the XP -30 rank among these models?

 

[Don_Berg]

That list is over 2 years old, those models are all obsolete. The XP30 is superior to them. The XP30 is still the best model available under $500, so even at $350 its still a good buy since there is nothing else you could get even at that price that would match its quality. There may be good new models that come out in the future, but not at such a low price I bet.

 

[Charles Gurganus]

Don, I thought the Denon 1600 was to match the xp30's quality. Is that not true? I've seen a couple of 1600 but they are listed at $499. It does have DVD-A also. Is the 1600 at $500 a better buy than the xp30 at $350 IYO.

Also, what about the Denon DVD 1200? Is that model current and/or available?

 

[chung_sotheby]

I compared the Denon 1600 and Panny XP30 in pic quality, and I cuoldn't find any difference. In terms of CD audio quality, the 1600 was definately better (even though I never use it for CD's). I think that the XP50 and 1600 are basically the exact same models, as is the RP82, with the 1600 having some upgraded audio parts. What is also great is that for the most part, you can still find some NEW 1600's, while finding new RP82's and XP30/50's is near impossible, especially from authorized dealers, and the new 1600's are selling for anywhere between $300-$350, since the new Denon 1200/2200's are already out and rolling.
I think that there is still inventory of 1600's because their original list was $500 ans selling for around $400, whereas the list for the RP82 and xp30/50's was closer to $200-250, selling for $140-200, and with the same video quality the cheaper Panny units were all bought up. What's interesting now is that the Denons now sell for less than the Pannys, since a lot more people know about the Pannys' VQ than the Denon's equal VQ.

 

[Charles Gurganus]

I kind of find the Denon DVM-2815 interesting. DCDi, plus DVD-audio in a 5 disc changer. It was rated good by secrets (87).

So it would come down to finding one of the older players like the 1600 or one of the xp's (lots of luck) vs getting one of the new ones like the 2815 or even the Denon 910.

I've heard that the rp82/cp72/1600's have had some problems with the spindle burning out or something like that.

Chung could you pm me of where I can locate a 1600 for the $300 - $350 range. That may be a better machine than say the 2815 (which is readily available), especially for CD playback.

 

[Derek B]

Check out this used XP-30 on ebay. Try emailing the guy and see if he will sell it to you without bidding. $175.

As soon as people see this post I think this unit will sell quickly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3081852507

 

[Don_Berg]

I'm sure that XP30 will end up over $300 in bids. The Panasonic models like the XP30,XP50,RP82 are essentially the same design as the Denon DVD-1600, except the XP30 was cheaper due to no DVD-audio feature. However the Panasonics all have a few features the Denon's lack like SVCD support and some noise/artifact reduction settings.

 

[GregBoehme]

Just found this out first hand..my rp82 just started flaking out with H02 error code, this is the bad motor code.. see ALOT of people are getting this after 1-2 years of use. Didn't expect it to last forever, but longer than 1 1/2 years.
Trying to figure out if it can be repaired, if not what else is available at a reasonable price.

 

[Don_Berg]

Yes the defective spindle motor design in the RP62/RP82/CP72 is well known - appears to fail in under one year of use in many cases. The later XP30/XP50 designs apparently went to a different motor design that hasn't had such failures. Unfortunately the spindle motor repair on the RP82 or CP72 is quite expensive since its out of warranty by the time it fails.

 

[GregBoehme]

Update:
Ordered the Spindle motor assembly from Panasonic ($68)and it fixed the H07 errors (in other words the DVD spins now instead of just sitting there) and my RP-82 is functional again !
While it is not a terribly hard repair, it is a bit involved as you have to desolder/solder the circuit board from the motors and transfer the lens assembly and some hardware over to the new motor assembly, along with some delicate cable removal... go slow and keep track of what you take off from where if anyone tries this.

 

[Mattias_ka]

I just got a RP-82 new and with a SDI output for 590$.
A superb machine and with SDI output it's just one of the great buys.
Can still been had new at http://www.pmsvideo.com